Device for shifting curtains or the like.



15;. 1. WILLEM DEVICE FOR SHIFTING CURTAINS 0R THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 3.1816.

1 ,263,628. Patented Apr. '23, 1918.

. a SHEETS-sneer 1.

II ,W

w1 W w In BVM A ITO/#Mfrs E. l. VALLEN.

DEVICE FOR SHIFTING CURTAINS 0R THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 3. Isls.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Wl TNEISSES:

/w MI f1/QL J MALE/If.

* ATTORNEYS E. I. VALLEN.

DEVICE FOR SHIFTING CURTAINS OR THE LIKE.

1,263,628 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3. I'9I6. Patented Apr' 23,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESS/:"8:

EARL J. VALLEN, or AKRON, oHIo.

DEVICE FR SHIFTING CURTAINS R THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

Application filed January 3, 1916. Serial No. 70,065.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL J. VALLEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Devices for Shifting Curtains or the like, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to improvements in devices for shifting curtains or similar objects such as doors or screens, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device for shifting curtains first in one direction and then in the reverse, the one movement being` accomplished byv the mere closing of an electric switch and the next movement or reverse movement being accomplished by a single manipulation of the same electric switch.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which is operated by an electric motor and whose rotation in one direction will serve to draw the curtain in one direction and also to actuate a pole changing device, while the rotative movement in the opposite direction will -cause a reverse movement of the curtain and also of the pole changing device.

A further object of 'my invention is to provide a novel arrangement consisting of a pair of electric switches, the pole chang- 4ing device, an electric motor, and a combined curtain shifting device and switch operating device, the parts being so arranged that it is only necessary to manipulatel one of the switches to cause the forward anad reverse movements of the curtain shifting mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of the type de-n scribed in which the stopping of the mechanism at the end of the forward and reverse movements of the curtain is rendered automatic.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Mv invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections when the mechanism is in one position.

Fig. 3 is a similar diagrammatic view showing the mechanism in another position.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the curtain shifting and switch operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. G is a detail view of the curtain shifting mechanism. y

Referring now to Fig. 1, I have shown therein a pair of curtains 1 and 2 which are mounted upon a rod 3, rollers 4 being preferably used to permit the free movement of the curtains. The curtain 1 is connected by means of an arm 5 with the lower portion of the endless cable G, while the curtain 2 is connected by an arm 7 with the upper portion of the endless cable 6.

rlhis endless cable G runs over two pulleys 8 and is then wound around a drum 9 on a shaft 10 in such a manner that the rotation of the drum will wind on one portion of the cable and unwind the other. rThe opposite ends of the cable may pass over anysuitable idlers (not shown).

The shaft 10 of the drum 9 also bears a sprocket wheel 11 which is connected by a chain 12 with a sprocket wheel 13 on a shaft 14, the latter being provided with a sprocket 15 connected by a sprocket chain 1G with a sprocket. 17 on the shaft 18, of the electric motor M. The arrangement thus described shows one means of connecting up the driving` mechanism but it is obvious that any suitable connections might be used.

1n Fig. 4 l have shown a frame consisting of the end members 19, 20, and the connecting members 21 and 22. The latter form guide rods for a traveling bar 23 which is provided with openings through which the guide members 21 and 22 eX- tend. The bar 23 is provided with a `central boss 24 which is threaded internally and is arranged to engage the threaded portion 10x of the shaft 10.

Pivotally secured to the traveling bar 23 is a rod 25 which connects with the switch. 26 carried by the frame member 19. rlhis switch member is a four-point switch and is operated by the movement of the bar 23 in either direction. The specific construction of this switch is immaterial so far as results are concerned, but the type of switch is set forth diagrammatically in Figs. 3 and 4. The switch is constructed so that it will permit movement of the bar 23 to a given distance before the switch will b e operated and then the operation will be instantaneous. The arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 .consists of an insulating rod 26a having terminals 2Gb and 26C, the rod being provided with springs 25a and 25b on opposite sides of the bar 2G, these springs bearing on collars carried by the rod. The rod 25 passes through 'the bar 26a loosely.

Springs 25c are designed to enter notches 251and 25e as the switch is shifted, and to retain the switch in its shifted position. It will be obvious that if the rod 25, as shown in Fig. 2, is moved in the direction shown by the arrow, the spring 25b will be compressed and .will permit the rod 25d to move a certain distance until the pressure of the spring will overcome the spring 25C, whereupon the contacts 2G" and 2Gc will suddenly shift and will engage the contact posts 29 and 28 respectively. It will be understood that this explanation of the diagram is merely to give a clear idea of the general type of switch for it is obvious that many specific forms might be made which would be illustrated by the diagrammatic showing.

Passing loosely through the bar 23 is a rod 33 provided with collars 34 and 35. A spring 36 is disposed between the collar 34 and the bar 23, while a Isimilar spring 3T is disposed between the collar 35 and bar 23. The rod 33 is pivotally connected by means of a link 38 with a pole changer l?. This pole changer consists of a lever 39 which is pivoted at 40 and which bears laterally exj tending end portions 4l and 42 provided with contacts such as those shown at 43 and 44. It will be seen from Figs, 2 and 3 that there are two contacts at each end of the lever 39, these contacts being shown at 43, 43', 44 and 44 and such contacts being arranged to engage the contacts 43X and 434', 44X and 444' respectively, according to the position to which the lever vis moved.

The motor M is provided with a field coil m. rThe explanation of the circuit connections will best be understood by a statement of the operation of the device. Let us assume that the curtains are closed as shown in Fig. l and that it is desired to open them. The switch arm 45 is moved from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 to the full line position. Current thereupon Hows from the lead wire L, conductor 46. contacts 27 and 26, 32, 47 31, 2Gb, 48, 45, conductor 49, through the motor M. and bach to the neg. tive wire L b v the conductor 50. The field coil 7n` is energized by the shunt circuit which begins at the wire 49 and continues as follows: conductor 51, contacts 43x and 43, 53, 54. field coil m, 5G, contacts 3' and 43", 57, and to the conductor 50 by means of wire The arrows indicate the.

AThe rotation of the drum causes the travel of the endless cable 6 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, thereby openino' the curtains.

ll`he rotation of the shaft l0 of the drum causes the advancement of the bar 23 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4. As soon as the tension of the spring 2Gb on the rod 25, which rod is connected with the switch 26, becomes `great enough, the switch is suddenly thrown from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, thereby breaking the circuit from the switch contacts and causing the stopping of the motor. The point at which the motor stops is of course gaged with reference to the distance the curtains have to be moved. The movement of the bar 23 Causes the operation of the pole changing device; in other words, it shifts it from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3. As long as the switch bar 45 remains in the position shown in Fig. 2, there will be no further movement of the apparatus, but if it is desired to reverse the movement, the bar 45 is moved from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 to that shown in full lines. The parts are now in position for the reverse movement of the motor. Current from the motor flowing from the positive lead wire through 4G, 27, 2S, 26, 32, 47, 31, 26", 29, 59, 45, 49, through the motor M and by wire 50 to the negative lead wire L it will be noticed has the same direction as that traced in Fig. 2, but the current is reversed in the field coil m, the circuit through the latter being as follows: from wire 49 through 5l, 52, contacts 44X and 44, 60, 55, field coil m, 54, 53, contacts 44 and 445', 57, and by wire 58 to the conductor 50 leading to the negative lead wire L. This reverses the direction of the motor and hence the direction of rotation of the drum 9 and its shaft l0. The bar 23 will be forced in the opposite direction and will move the switch 26 and the pole changing device back into the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the device will be set to resume its forward position when the switch arm 45 is moved back into the position shown in Fig. 2.

It will be obvious that by merely manipulating the switch 45 the device may be caused to move so as to open and close the curtains alternately. The switch shown at 45 is of course shown diagrammatically and may be any of the various types of threepoint switches in which either of two contacts or terminals may be connected with a third. One feature of this device is that no current is wasted, since no current is flowing until the circuit has been closed by the manipulation of the three-point switch.

It is obvious that this device might be employed to operate curtains of theaters, or any other apparatus, in which movement is necessary in one direction and then in the reverse direction, as in opening or shutting doors or the like.

I claim 1. In a device for shlfting curtains or the like, a rotatable drum, iieXible connections between said drum and said curtains for operating the latter, a frame, a traveling bar connected with the shaft of the drum and actuated thereby, said traveling bar being arranged to move longitudinally of the frame, a circuit breaking switch operated by the movement of the traveling bar in either direction, and a pole changing device alsooperated by the movement of the traveling bar in either direction.

2. In a device for shifting curtains or the like, a rotatable drum, an electric motor for rotating said drum in either direction, the shaft of the motor being prolonged and being provided with a threaded portion, a frame, a traveling bar having threaded connection with the threaded portion of the shaft of the drum and being movable longitudinally of the frame, a switch secured to said frame, an arm secured to a portion of said switch and to said traveling bar for operating the switch through the movement of the bar, a pole changing switch, and means connected with the traveling bar for operating the pole changing switch.

3. In a device for shifting curtains or the like, a rotatable drum, flexible connections between said drum and said curtains for operating the latter, a frame, a traveling bar connected-with the shaft of the drum and actuated thereby, said traveling bar being arranged to move longitudinally of the frame, a circuit breaking switch, an arm connected with said traveling bar for operating the switch through the movement of the traveling bar in either direction, a pole changing device, and means connecting the traveling bar with the pole changing device for operating the latter upon the movement of the traveling bar in either direction.

4. In a device for shifting curtains or the like, a rotatable drum, flexible connections between said drum and said curtains for operating the latter, a frame,- a traveling bar connected with the shaft of the drum and actuated thereby, said traveling bar being arranged to move longitudinally of the frame, a circuit breaking switch, an arm connected with said traveling bar for operating the switch through the movement of the traveling bar in either direction, a pole changing device, means connecting the trav-.

eling bar with the pole changing device for operating the latter upon the movement of the traveling bar in either direction, said last mentioned means comprising a rod pivotally connected with said pole changing device and arranged to extend through said traveling bar, lugs carried by said rod and springs on each side of said traveling bar, said springs being arranged to bear on the bar at one end and on its individual lug at the other.

WINIFRED MCMANUS, CHARLES I-I. STAHL. 

